Presentation by Zolotova kicks off busy March at FGMS

FALLBROOK – March will be a busy month for Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society and the public is invited to join the fun.

The action starts Thursday, March 8, when FGMS presents special guest speaker Larisa Zolotova at its 7 p.m. regular monthly meeting. Zolotova will share her amazing journey to become a multi-award winning jewelry designer.

Taking her interest in jewelry from mere hobby to a passion driven new life career, Zolotova attended the prestigious School of Jewelry Arts in Saint Petersburg, Russia, perfecting the technical skills necessary to become a bench jeweler. In 2015 and 2016, she advanced her studies at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), earning the credentials of graduate gemologist, accredited jewelry professional and jewelry design and technology.

Inspired by nature, her travels and bright colors, Zolotova's design style merges shapes and natural forms like flowers and people. She strives to create dynamic, intriguing, complex and unique jewelry that incorporates that "wow" factor that appeals to extraordinary women.

These qualities have not gone unnoticed, with Ms. Zolotova receiving the 2016 GIA Student Choice Award for her Marilyn Monroe Collection, the prestigious A'Design Award in Jewelry, Eyewear and Watch Design (Milan, Italy) for her Ballerina ring in 2017 and her Marilyn Monroe ring won the Golden Line Award at the International Russian Diamond Line Contest (Moscow, Russia) in 2017. She will share examples of her work at the presentation and explain the process that brought about their creation.

An opportunity drawing will be held at the meeting and mineral specimens will be offered at a 20 percent discount. Light refreshments will be served. Plenty of free parking is available in the lot across the street from the FGMS building, located at 123 W. Alvarado St.

Everyone is invited to "Meet the Curator" at the FGMS Museum Saturday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Museum curator Michael T. Evans will greet visitors, answer questions and talk about new exhibits that he and Gina Palculich, assistant curator, have created. The FGMS Museum exhibits represent an extraordinary collection of minerals, gems and fossils, showcasing San Diego County's incredible kaleidoscope of minerals, amazing worldwide mineral specimens and new collection acquisitions that include both purchased items and donations made by FGMS members and friends of the FGMS Museum. Admission to the museum is free and it will remain open until 3 p.m.

A third event on the FGMS calendar will also take place Saturday, March 17, beginning at 1 p.m. FGMS will host its 3rd annual "Rough 'N Cut" event, an extravaganza for gem and mineral collectors, lapidary enthusiasts and anyone looking for great rocks, minerals, gemstones, beads, shells, equipment, books and lots of earth science related treasures. Sales will be continuous on the building's front patio and in the meeting room, with silent auctions starting at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the meeting room.

Admission to all FGMS events is free. For inquiries call (760)728-1130, email FGMS at [email protected], or see http://www.fgms.org.